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Club Sadowsky!!!

#33,461
Joeykun said:
Ask him what he did to his new Genz Benz head when he first got it.

Nope, he's not kidding! JK :D
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Yeah I destroyed that thing. It did involve a screwdriver but it wasnt on purpose. The screws were in a package that said from rack ears to amp but looked extremely long. I thought thats what they sent so they must be right. WRONG. I drove a screw through a crkt board and bent the input jack. So yeah who knows what I might do with a screwdriver and a new Sadowsky.
 
#33,463
Modern Growl said:
Last build - being delivered tomorrow :)

sado1of1_zps3d689bcc.jpg
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Ouch. Hawt. :)
 
#33,466
Thanks guys - its bitter sweet.

7 months ago I decided to stop messing around and just do a select few builds for "lifer" basses.

These bass so far have exceeded my expectations, and not having the itch to scroll the classifides is so sweet.

But part of me wishes there was always a build in the works to look forward to. Kinda that day before Christmas feeling when you were 10 years old...
 
#33,467
Modern Growl said:
Thanks guys - its bitter sweet.

7 months ago I decided to stop messing around and just do a select few builds for "lifer" basses.

These bass so far have exceeded my expectations, and not having the itch to scroll the classifides is so sweet.

But part of me wishes there was always a build in the works to look forward to. Kinda that day before Christmas feeling when you were 10 years old...
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Very cool. I bought a Sadowsky NYC around 7 years ago. Been looking at them here and on the Sadowsky site for a couple years before finally pulling the trigger on one. Was in NY for business and made the trip out to Brooklyn. Roger came into the showroom, introduced himself and patiently answered the questions I had. Sat down with Kevin as he pulled out a stack of blank bodies and oiled them up so you could see the grain. Told me it would be ready in six months - it took five. And pics were sent along the way. The anticipation, buying experience and subsequent wait were all part of the fun.

The bass was every bit as stunning as I thought it would be. Felt and sounded good - was certainly lighter than the MIA Jazz I was playing at the time. At the time I remember thinking it was nicer than the Fender but not by THAT much. I was a lot less experienced then - I've gigged a lot since and only with the Sadowsky.

I fell in love with that bass over time, appreciating it more and more Each time I played it. And it killed any GAS for other basses. Over the past year, I started thinking about getting something else - maybe a P Bass or a LP or ??? I picked up a few MIA Fender Ps in recent months and was just blown away at the difference in feel and quality with the Sadowsky. Same with a LP. They were very easy to put back on the wall. Funny thing - it has killed my GAS even for another Sadowsky. I think about doing another build, but go back to merrily playing the one I have. Maybe I'll grab a Sadowsky P someday...

Anyway, I appreciate what you said about a lifetime bass and treasure. If the house was burning, the kids and dog were out and I only had time to grab one thing, that bass would be it.

Enjoy yours!
 
#33,468
NOLA Bass said:
I have to chime in on keeping the plastic on and even getting it reapplied. As beautiful as Roger's basses are, they are meant to be played. Unless you have a mint 62 J or 59 Les Paul, don't sweat the small stuff. If you do, put them in a vault!!! ; ) Dings, scratches, scrapes happen. Think of it is character marks or "free relicing"! I peeled the plastic off my NYC after the first song in the first set when I got my NYC and knew I was keeping it!!! A scratch here, a ding on the headstock there. Such is life, don't sweat it. I wish I was as good about not sweating the other small things in life.

My Will Lee has a fairly sizable ding in the back of the neck from a mishap at home involving the family dog and me being a clutz! My NYC has a few dings on the headstock from cymbals, etc. just Sat night, my straplock must not have been locked in and my Lull hit the stage during soundcheck. Now it has a mark in finish on bottom of the headstock. All in all, a relief!
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IMG_20110315_200547.jpg

Belated amen! Here's my '05 P5. I'm careful with my instruments, but Blackie was my go-to bass until I got two more Sadowskys in 2010. Once she got a couple of the usual dings I stopped worrying about buckle rash. There are no bare spots on the front of the bass, but there are dings and scuffs, some of the pickguard screws are tarnished black, and obviously my thumb doesn't float as much as it should because there's a divot in the pickguard above the pickup.

Also, after a few years I noticed my wedding ring was wearing through the nitro...
l.jpg


...so, I sanded the back of the neck to match. Matte nitro feels great, so much better than poly IMO (though nitro eventually becomes glossy from playing wear), but now my fretting hand thumb has never felt better, except on ancient Fenders that have been completely broken in.
2011-10-01_13-39-29_397.jpg


Anyway... I understand the desire to keep instruments pristine, and I try for awhile (my 2010 Sadowskys are still reasonably clean), but with Blackie, it is SUCH a relief not to worry about dings any more.
 
#33,470
FWIW - I had a bass with Brazilian RW shipped into the states from Europe.
It was in customs for a day or two... and I got anxious and called the local customs location.

The gist I got from my converstion with them is they don't care about built guitars, and they wouldn't even give it a second look. They are looking for large quanities of raw lumber.... I know Gibson had issues in the past, but I highly doubt one guitar here or there will ever get scrutinized.
 
#33,471
But the new rules for instrument 'passports' look like they're closing it up tight on Appendix I materials, and the US Says it will be implementing the rules very, very soon.

For Braz, I'm not so worried, as I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole even without the difficulty, but I got my Standard with Madagascar rosewood before I looked into wood/conservation, and now I'm not sure what the long-term status us going to be, considering what I've found out about Madagascar's logging situation.
 
#33,478
EagleMoon said:
I've always been a bit curious but is there a reason (other than tradition) why guitar/bass manufacturers can't use wood from the U.S.? Is there no wood suitable? Seems like it would save money on importing and give workers here something to do.
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I think its more for tone, strength, and aesthetic value, something exotic. Plus sometimes its just cheaper to import instead of paying local US prices. There's many great woods that are used that are US grown; Alder, Ash, Poplar, Redwood, and Maple are used by large manufacturer companies that grow in the US.
 
#33,480
EagleMoon said:
I've always been a bit curious but is there a reason (other than tradition) why guitar/bass manufacturers can't use wood from the U.S.? Is there no wood suitable? Seems like it would save money on importing and give workers here something to do.
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What woods are you referring to? Maple, ash, alder, spruce, cedar are all US or Canadian woods. But there are very few exotic US hardwoods other than walnut and cherry.

Roger
 

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